There is so much to do in Orlando, and there are so many ways that you can save and stretch your budget out further. One of the best ways to get the most out of your experience is to do what the locals do and stay where the locals stay.

The locals don’t go for the Disney-owned and operated hotels. They go for the affordable resorts just a few minutes away. Many resorts offer great amenities like pools, waterslides, a spa, on-site dining, and more, and even offer free shuttle services to Disney World, Universal Studios, and several other top destinations in the area.

For those exploring Disney Area hotels that most locals stay at, understanding the key nuances, such as the difference between buying DVC direct vs resale can significantly impact your vacation experience. Explore more about this distinction and make an informed decision for your magical stay.

These 10 Disney area hotels are popular with the locals, and they should be at the top of your list when booking for your vacation.

1. Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa

This resort is next to Big Sand Lake and just five miles from Walt Disney World Resort and four miles from Universal Orlando.

There are rooms to suit everyone, from simple studios all the way to large 4-bedroom villas that contain their own kitchens. Eat-in one of the five restaurants, swim in one of the many pools and even book a day pass to go to the on-site waterpark. There are so many great things to see and do at this resort, making it a top favorite amongst locals who are in the area to visit Disney World.

2. Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is an excellent chain that offers clean and comfortable accommodations near all the action of Orlando.

The Hyatt Regency is a popular chain in Orlando as it offers exceptional service and accommodations for a great price. Here you will be able to enjoy chic décor, great services, excellent pools, and more within a reasonable distance of Disney World. It is perfect for travelers of all types, as it offers something for everyone.

3. Four Seasons Resort

Four Seasons Resort is just three miles from Walt Disney World Resort and is a short distance away from Disney Springs.

This is a massive resort that comes with everything you need to enjoy a luxurious stay. While it may not be an option that many locals can choose for themselves on a regular basis, it is still a favorite for its stunning grounds and amazing rooms. Rooms come with marble bathrooms and even soaking tubs. Suites come with their own private terraces.

All guests have access to the many pools, restaurants, and bars that operate on the property. There is a 13,000-foot spa and even a golf course. The pools have a lazy river and water slides.

It is everything you need to make your Disney trip absolutely magical.

4. Gaylord Palms

This stunning hotel and resort offer beautiful facilities, including a glass atrium garden, beautiful pools, and a golf course just 3.2 miles from Walt Disney World Resort.

This resort comes complete with everything you could hope for in a beautiful resort. The rooms come with marble baths, flat-screen TVs, and minifridges. You will be able to even upgrade and get living rooms and kitchenettes in your space.

There are three restaurants on the property, 2 bars, and a café. If you are a sports fan, then catch your team on a massive 37-foot screen in the sports bar.

There is an adults-only pool, a water park, a spa, a games room, and more. You can even feed baby alligators.

Enjoy all this with shuttle services to the parks included in your resort fee.

5. Westgate Vacation Villas and Town Center Resort

Westgate Vacation Villas and Town Center Resort offers a home-away-from-home experience and amazing facilities, including a waterpark.

Westgate has a few Disney resorts in Florida, and between the Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa and these two sister resorts, you are spoiled for choice. This option is particularly of interest for larger families who want to settle in on a long vacation to the area rather than burn through in a few days. Book a villa, and you will get a private villa that comes complete with a kitchen, living room, dining room, and laundry machines so you can settle into your home-away-from-home vacation.

You will have a waterpark, pools, restaurants, spas, and more available to you at these resorts and still be a short distance away from the hottest attractions in Orlando. You will be just 3.5 miles from Walt Disney World Resort. If you want to see, Universal Orlando know that you will be 14.9 miles away.

6. Hyatt Regency Orlando

The Hyatt Regency Orlando is connected to the Orange County Convention center by three walkways and is just four miles from Universal Orlando Resort, and is 13 minutes from Walt Disney World.

 This hotel will be of particular interest to convention center goers, as not only does it offer easy connections to the Orange County Convention Center, it can get you to Walt Disney World Resort in just 13 minutes for as little as $1. As a convention center goer, you can save by opting for a half-day resort rate so you can kick back and enjoy some thrills at Walt Disney World at a great rate.

The rooms are laid-back and have the modern amenities like Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV. The hotel comes with a steak restaurant and two different bars. You will have access to the two outdoor pools and can book a spa treatment or two. If you are looking to mix business with pleasure, this is the place.

7. Bohemian Hotel Celebration

This hotel is relatively unknown and a true local favorite as it is a short 0.5 miles from Celebration Golf Club and seven miles away from Walt Disney World Resort.

This hotel overlooks Lake Rianhard and is a short distance away from Celebration Golf Club and Walt Disney World Resort. The rooms are colorful and filled with custom artwork and also feature all the classic and modern amenities you have come to expect from hotels today. This means free Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, coffeemakers, and high-quality Bose radios.

There are many great amenities and activities in the hotel space as well, with an art gallery, a bar and grill, and a 5000-square-feet of event place that are occasionally open to the public.

8. Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort

Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort offers excellent value for money and balances an affordable price with high-quality rooms and amenities.

This resort often takes people by surprise. It is overall not the flashiest or most obvious resort to consider, but due to its affordable rates and what you get included, this is easily one of the local favorites. The location is great, the room rates are decent, and what you get for your money tends to exceed expectations. The upscale accommodations may not be particularly awe-inspiring, but what you lose in stylish décor you make for in savings. If you don’t care what your hotel or resort looks like, and are instead considering what option gives you the most value, then this could be a good choice.

9. Floridays Resort Orlando

Floridays Resort Orlando is a local favorite for its great price and better amenities that make it a top choice for those going to Disney World.

If you want a resort that seems to keep on giving, don’t look further than Floridays. It is one of the cheaper options around, but that does not mean it skimps out on anything. It is one of the best value-for-money resorts in the area and offers amazing things to do right on site. You can enjoy swimming, a full events program, on-site restaurants, and more.

It is here where you can find some of the best rates on villas, so if you are interested in making your own meals to save on your trip, then this could be a great resort to pick.

10. Tru by Hilton

This budget version of Hilton is ideal for those that want a great deal without being far from top hot spots like SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort.

You will be able to enjoy clean, affordable accommodation right around the corner from many top destinations in Orlando at Tru by Orlando. You will be a short mile from SeaWorld Orlando, 2 miles from the Orange County Convention Center, and just 5 miles from the infamous Walt Disney World Resort and all the amazing things you can do there.

You will find this hotel off Road 528 and be able to enjoy simple but essential amenities like an outdoor pool, a convenience store, and the option to have breakfast at the hotel.

by Susmita Sengupta

The massive concrete building loomed in front of us and a shiver of excitement ran through me. Soon we would be stepping into one of the most electrifying living museums, a place where scientists have worked consistently to send people and cargo to space. Yes, I am talking about NASA and John F. Kennedy Space Center, an awe-inspiring place to visit irrespective of whether you are a space enthusiast or not. A few years ago, my family and I were vacationing in Florida, the Space Coast to be precise and we were in Cocoa Beach.

We drove into Cocoa Beach from Orlando, home to Disneyworld, the premium tourist destination for people from all over the world. Close to 48 million visitors traipse through this wonderland each year. Not many people venture to Kennedy Space Center located on Merritt Island, near Cocoa Beach, a mere one hour and few minutes away by road from Disneyworld. Only about 2 million people visit the Kennedy Space Center annually.

Our visit to the Kennedy Space Center started at the Visitors Complex, which in itself is a space to behold. At the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, it was inspiring to see the life and achievements of all the astronauts who have traveled to the moon and space like such luminaries as Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, John Glenn and the first woman member Sally Ride. It includes space shuttle astronauts connected with Apollo – Soyuz, Mercury, Skylab, Apollo and other such programs. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is an ongoing program and every year astronauts are added to the group in a ceremony. I found out that in order to be inducted, the astronauts have to be a NASA trained specialist, commander, or pilot and has to have orbited the earth at least once.

The Rocket Garden has an outdoor display of early rockets from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo Space programs. The line was long at the Shuttle Launch Experience, where the braver visitors can feel the simulation of a real launch traveling at 17,500 mph on their way to orbit the earth. There is also an Astronaut Encounter event where one can meet pilots, commanders, astronauts and payload specialists in a live meet and greet session.

We decided to take the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour, truly a highlight of visiting this complex. Although there are two bus tours, it is quite impossible to do both. We decided on the one that linked up more closely with our own interests. This behind the scenes tour takes visitors to restricted launch sites and spaceflight facilities, both historic and working. About 40 minutes long, the bus winds its way through the NASA complex, passing by the large, concrete building known as the Vehicle Assembly Building, the site where the rockets are constructed, the launch facilities known as Launch Complex 39, where we were delighted to see a shuttle being readied for a launch.

Another highpoint was when we walked through the preparation and construction facilities for the International Space Station. The Space Station, which orbits the earth about every 90 minutes, has been in space since 1998 and has been continuously occupied by astronauts of member countries since 2000. Astronauts stay over for around six months doing research and experiments on impacts on health due to long-term space stays. Because it is gargantuan in size, the station has been assembled over the years in parts and transported to space using shuttles and other rocket flights. We were awed at the feats of human technology and engineering, marveling at the size of the constructions and wondered how such massive objects get transported into space.

The bus tour concludes at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which is dedicated to a vital point in the American space program, namely the landing of man on the Moon. Here we entered the era of Project Apollo, touring exhibits and viewing major milestones and moments connected to moon landings. I stared in amazement along with other visitors at the colossal 363-foot Saturn V rocket, the largest rocket to fly astronauts to the moon and back. The Firing Room Theater is where I thrillingly experienced the reenactment of the launching in December 1968 of the Saturn V moon rocket and the countdown for the spacecraft Apollo 8 carrying the first crew to orbit the moon, all of it done using the actual consoles used for the mission. While at the Lunar Theater, it was wonderful to see a short movie on the historic July 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Having spent almost an entire day at the Kennedy Space Center, we decided to make some time for other attractions in the area. First up was a boat tour to see alligators. This meant that we would be experiencing a first time ride on an airboat, the characteristic method for gator viewing in Florida’s swampy marshlands. We reached Lone Cabbage Fish Camp, about a half hour by road from our hotel in Cocoa Beach and a fixture in the area since the 1940s. The place started out as a fishing outpost but is now quite overrun with tourists seeking gator views. Soon after our ticket purchases, we boarded the airboat, a flat-bottomed vessel with a huge caged propeller fan in the back. We sat on seats reminiscent of park benches and then we received hearing protection headphones to wear for the trip, as the propellers get quite noisy. Soon the airboat zipped on its way, skimming across the St. John’s River, the longest river in Florida. Around us were the grassy marsh, swamps and wetlands with breathtaking views. Before we knew it, the captain slowed down the boat to cut the noise and I had my first glimpse of an enormous alligator, resting on the marsh and soaking in the sun. It was not long before we saw more alligators as the boat now slowly glided along the river. There were water birds in the marshes, but although the brochure promised views of cows, bald eagles and wild hogs, we did not see any. It is a short ride of around 30 minutes and soon we were back at the dock, ready for our next activity of the vacation.

My daughter decided that we should spend at least a few hours on the beach and so we trooped back to our hotel area to enjoy the sun and sand of Cocoa Beach. This is an Atlantic beach, almost 70 miles of it and the water was surprisingly calm. I knew that many people preferred going to the Gulf Coast beaches due to much calmer waters and an abundance of seashells. The Atlantic beaches were preferred by surfers due to high waves. Cocoa Beach is deemed to be the surfing mecca of Florida, there is a profusion of available surfing lessons, and the world’s largest surf shop is located here. But then, we are not a surfing family and we were glad simply to wade in the waters and enjoy the vista of the ocean.

And in the end how could we be different from other tourists? Giving in to our impulses and making our daughter happy in the process, we decided to visit one kingdom of Disneyworld. Keeping the theme somewhat intact, we went to Epcot, the only theme park we had missed on an earlier trip to Orlando. The “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” or Epcot was the second of the Disney theme parks and it opened in 1982. It was envisioned as a planned living community highlighting technological innovation but those plans fell to the wayside after the death of Walt Disney. Instead, the focus was kept on modern innovation through its attractions and an addition of world nation showcase.

Entering the park, we immediately viewed the iconic geodesic sphere, almost a symbol for Epcot. The original geodesic dome was the brainchild of Buckminster Fuller and it was first displayed as Biosphere at the Montreal Expo in 1967. Fuller conceived the sphere to house humans in need of survival but the idea never really caught on due to builders not being skilled enough to build such structures.

Then in the 1960s, along came Walt Disney with his vision for a utopian city, perhaps with a geodesic dome. Although his dream was never truly realized as he died before knowing about the Montreal Expo and Epcot became an entertainment ground, the geodesic sphere, now named Spaceship Earth became an immediate attraction at its opening. This theme park is different from the other Disney parks in that the attractions are geared towards science and nature and thus was considered to not be very child friendly. Nevertheless, we as a family enjoyed doing the tour of the greenhouses where a variety of plants and vegetables are grown. Equally inventive and wonderful were the visits to one of the largest salt-water aquarium and the ride along the wonders of the world. Our visit to Epcot was capped off by the signature fireworks display that is held every evening when thunderous but dazzling fireworks and lasers light up the nighttime skies.

Florida’s Space Coast turned out to be an ideal vacation getaway with something to suit everyone’s interest and taste.

If You Go:

For more information:

visitspacecoast.com

kennedyspacecenter.com

twisterairboatrides.com

Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral: Ultimate Space Pass

About the author:

Susmita Sengupta, an architect by background, is a freelance writer who loves to travel. She and her family have traveled to various parts of the USA, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Middle East, Southeast Asia and India.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Visitor Complex photo by Gzzz under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

All other photos by Susmita Sengupta.

• The Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center
• Touring a room of rockets
• The massive Saturn V Center rocket
• Airboats readying up for alligator viewing trip
• The iconic Geodesic Sphere or Spaceship Earth at Epcot

Kennedy Space Center Day Tour with Airboat Ride from Orlando

by Troy Herrick

In the 17th century, gold, silver and other treasures flowed into Spain like water from its overseas empire. Other European powers like Britain and Holland took careful notice of this wealth and commissioned privateers to “occasionally interrupt” the stream of treasure-laden galleons. The stakes were high and Spain had to protect its interests from the real “Pirates of the Caribbean” like Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins and Laurenz de Graaf. Dutch pirate Piet Heyn was particularly successful in capturing 90 tons of gold and silver, which was worth far more than a king’s ransom. Spain moved to turn the Caribbean Sea into its own mare nostrum (“our sea”) by constructing fortresses at a number of strategic sites including Puerto Rico, Florida and Mexico. Spanish ships could anchor in safe harbors as they gradually made their way to and from Europe.

Puerto Rico, the first major island with fresh water, was the gateway to the new world. The north equatorial ocean current and the northeast trade winds carried ships from distant Europe, 4000 miles away, right to its doorstep.

St. Augustine, Florida was the last port of call for galleons crossing the Atlantic back to Spain. The Gulf Stream carried the treasure-laden ships up the east coast of Florida right past this site before turning towards Europe.

Veracruz, Mexico was the site of the Spanish “Fort Knox.” Almost all the gold and silver from the new world passed through this city before being loaded onto galleons bound for Spain.

The Castillo San Felipe Del Morro and the Castillo San Cristobal – San Juan, Puerto Rico

In 1493 Christopher Columbus was the first European to land on Puerto Rico and the city of San Juan was established in 1521. The Spanish quickly realized that the nation controlling this settlement could shelter its vessels in the harbor behind strong fortifications and send its warships out to control the new world trade routes. Fortification of the island began in 1539 with the Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) and the structure you find now was essentially complete by 1790, except for a lighthouse that was added in 1846.

As we approached El Morro from town, we found ourselves crossing a large open field. This esplanade allowed defenders to shoot at anyone foolish enough to attack the fort by land. At the Sally Port, we purchased our admission tickets from the park ranger “sentry” and found ourselves standing on the parade square known as the Plaza de Armas.

The periphery of the Plaza de Armas is lined with casemates which are vaulted rooms designed to disperse the weight of the structure above. Each casemate was originally designated for a specific use and now they house historical displays. The powder magazine houses a display of 10-12 inch diameter cannon balls and gunpowder casks. A bell over the entrance to one casemate marks the chapel; inside, hanging over the bare altar, you find a picture of the Virgin of the Navigators who watches over a harbor filled with old sailing vessels.

Descending the stairs to the lower level you find the casemates where soldiers lived and worked; these include barracks, kitchen and forge. After seeing these, visitors may be left with the impression that morale was very low in this Castillo. Life was rough and a soldier’s pay was not only small but also not guaranteed to be available either.

El Morro was designed to protect the harbor below from attack by sea. Unfortunately this fortress was not designed to protect the city. This weakness was exploited by the English in 1595 and 1598 and the Dutch in 1625 who all inflicted heavy damage to San Juan. Realizing their strategic error, the Spanish constructed the Castillo San Cristobal to protect San Juan, and El Morro, from a land-based attack.

The Castillo San Cristobal began as a small triangular structure in 1634 and evolved into the largest fortification in the new world by 1782. The strength of this fortress was put to the test when the British attacked in April 1797. They were repulsed by the defenders and it was easy to see why when you consider that the main battery alone had over 30 heavy guns trained on the attackers. A neatly assembled pile of cannon balls still remains on the battery deck, just in case.

As with El Morro, San Cristobal has a number of casemates around the periphery of the Plaza de Armas. One was the barracks and it contained two long, low-lying beds, each accommodating 9 to 10 soldiers. Every soldier was issued a gray-brown woolen blanket. At the far end of each bed is a drum. You also find an example of an ammo pouch and a blue field pack with shoulder straps. What you do not see are uniforms because in the 17th century Spanish soldiers were not issued with these by the military. Instead they wore red sashes or badges as a means of distinguishing themselves from the enemy.

One unusual feature about the Castillo San Cristobal is that the chapel is not housed inside a casemate. Rather it is outside, exposed to the elements. It is not clear why this was the case.

Both fortresses feature a number of sentry boxes (garitas). Each accommodated a single guard and allowed for a 180-degree view of the area. There is an open entrance on the side and a slit from which the sentry could fire his rifle while at the same time minimizing his own exposure to return fire. The most infamous garita, known as the Devil’s Sentry Box, was situated below the northern wall of San Cristobal, just above the water. Soldiers were afraid to be posted here in the dark of night because it was believed to be haunted. You can visit this garita but only during daylight hours.

With the two fortresses, San Juan had become the most heavily fortified settlement in the Caribbean. While both castillos were besieged, neither ever fell to the enemy. The only time the Spanish were displaced was in 1898 when Puerto Rico became a U.S. Territory after the Spanish-American War.

Visitors should also note that the Castillo San Felipe del Morro and the Castillo San Cristobal are not the only fortresses in the vicinity. El Morro had a smaller twin, the Fortin de San Juan de la Cruz (also known as El Cañuelo), on the opposite shore of the bay; it is still clearly visible in the distance. Combined, they provided crossfire across the bay in case of enemy attack.

San Cristobal’s smaller twin is the Fortin San Jeronimo which still “protects” the San Antonio Bridge linking the islet of Old San Juan to the main island. Curiously while we were on the islet, a fleet of taxis blockaded the bridge to protest the recent licensing of Uber in the city. There was no response from the Fortin San Jeronimo at that time.

Castillo de San Marcos – St. Augustine, Florida

In 1565 Conquistador Pedro Menendez de Aviles, accompanied by 600 soldiers and colonists arrived in Florida to establish a series of “presidios” (fortified towns) to defend treasure-laden ships en route back to Spain. Construction of the Castillo de San Marcos, the most northerly of these presidios, was essentially complete by 1695. The bastion design allowed defenders to mount cannons in such a way as to get a clear shot at the enemy from every possible angle.

Walking across the field just outside the entrance of the Castillo, we encountered eight “Spanish” soldiers dressed in 18th century uniforms and shouldering muskets. [TOP PHOTO] The commanding officer barked out orders in Spanish to commence a rifle firing drill. Shortly after, the artillery men fired a three pound mortar. Curiously an incoming motor boat suddenly changed direction at the same time. It was well out of range by the time this piece of artillery was reloaded.

Entering the castillo, we crossed a well-worn wooden drawbridge to the Sally Port and passed a sentry holding a rifle with fixed bayonet. We found ourselves standing on the Plaza de Armas, which was again surrounded by casemates. Two casemates featured different types of cannon shot – solid cannon balls, bar shot, chain shot, grape shot and the long-handled tools (approximately 8 feet in length) required to load, fire and clean the big guns.

Barracks were equipped with two 26 foot long raised wooden platforms lining the walls of the casemate. Each had a single light gray mattress on top, capable of accommodating six soldiers. A short run outside brought the soldiers to la necessaria, an 18th century latrine featuring six seats and no privacy. The “modern” flushing system required a bucket of water drawn from a nearby barrel.

One casemate functioned as a treasury room where military pay chests, valuables and important documents were kept; another was a chapel with a stone altar set against the back wall.

The Castillo de San Marcos was never taken by force but in 1763 the St. Augustine colony was ceded to Britain after the Seven Years War. Spain would later reclaim St. Augustine in 1784 under the Treaty of Paris after having assisted the Americans during their Revolutionary War. Eventually in 1821, Florida was traded to the United States to settle a debt.

Fuerte de San Juan de Ulua – Veracruz, Mexico

In 1518 Spanish conquistador Juan de Grijalva and 30 soldiers landed on a tiny island in the harbor of what is now Veracruz and named it San Juan de Ulua. The first fortifications were constructed in 1535 and then upgraded in 1600 after this site was appointed as an official repository for all treasures collected in the New World and the Philippines. After 172 years and several expansions, the bastion was completed. Its ramparts accommodated 250 cannons to provide a warm welcome for any undesirable visitors.

All incoming treasure was transported to Veracruz by mule train. This included much of the Andean gold and silver produced as well as exotic woods and spices from the Philippines, all of which converged at Acapulco on the Pacific Coast. Added to this was the Mexican gold and silver. Upon arrival at the Fuerte de San Juan de Ulua, this horde was catalogued and stored until the annual gold fleet gradually arrived from Spain. A secure storage facility was urgently required to handle the inconveniently large volumes of treasure that were assembled.

As we approached the site, we first passed a modern sentry box as this fort is situated on a Mexican naval base. After purchasing our admission tickets, we then stepped back in time and passed an old Spanish garita at the Sally Port.

Once inside at the Plaza de Armas, your first surprise is the beige façade with white leafy trim of the Casa del Gobernador (Governor’s House) that almost seems out-of-place with the rough-cut stone features of the other walls surrounding the plaza. A Spanish governor was installed here in 1601 to secure all of the treasure being shipped to Spain. The finely finished rooms of the Governor’s House now contain a museum displaying armour, pikes and flintlock pistols in addition to statues of saints, local indigenous pottery and figurines.

Typical of Spanish fortifications, the Plaza de Armas has casemates around the periphery. Unfortunately, those at San Juan de Ulua have been poorly maintained. Unique about these casemates is that they were used to store gold and silver. Look inside one of them and imagine a room filled with gold bars to a height of 4 feet or silver bars to a height of 6 feet. Each casemate was filled with enough precious metal to fill a single galleon to full capacity. The difference in height between gold and silver was necessitated because the former is much heavier and any greater volume of gold might potentially sink the ship. Once a casemate was filled to capacity, the precious metals were protected by large wooden doors and a padlock.

Climb the narrow staircase in the southeast corner of the Plaza de Armas to the second level. At the top of the stairs you find two observation towers that were constructed in 1584 to provide an early warning system in case of attack. The Baluarte de San Crispin in the southwest corner and the Baluarte de San Pedro in the southeast corner are both approximately 44 feet high. You also find a number of gun platforms strategically located around the ramparts on which to mount cannons.

Return to the Plaza de Armas and exit to the dock area on the south side of the fort. What you find is that there is only enough mooring space to accommodate 3 or 4 ships at a time. The wall along the docks is known as the Muro de las Argollas (wall of rings) and is named for the 35 heavy brass rings used to securely tie off the vessels while they were being loaded. Empty galleons were loaded to full capacity before they set sail to Havana and then eventually on to Puerto Rico and ultimately Cadiz or Seville in Spain.

The total volume of metals passing through the Fuerte de San Juan de Ulua each year would fill 60 to 80 galleons. At the same time it is impossible to believe that this huge stash of treasure was ever accumulated on site at any one time, as there was insufficient storage capacity. Logistically mule train delivery could not be coordinated with the arrival of the galleons. Since it was unlikely that the whole fleet arrived in Veracruz at the same time, there would likely have been sufficient time to replenish the treasure stores after they were depleted. It was only necessary to have enough treasure on hand to guarantee that each ship could be loaded to full capacity after they trickled into port.

Head back inside the fort and then exit by way of the Sally Port. Once outside, cross the drawbridge known as “The Bridge of Sighs” over to the Half-moon Bastion. This bastion housed political prisoners from 1755 to 1914. Up to 30 prisoners at a time were cruelly chained together in each dark, dank casemate. The only light source was two slits in the wall and water droplets continuously fell from the ceiling. Prisoners were arranged in such a way as to receive the Spanish version of the Chinese Water Torture. The prisoners have long since been replaced by short stalactites and stalagmites.

The Fuerte de San Juan de Ulua was designed to protect Spanish treasure and not the town of Veracruz just across the harbor. The Dutch exploited this weakness and sacked Veracruz in 1683 but the fort remained secure.

The fortress was never taken by force while it was under Spanish control. Even after Mexican independence from Spain in 1821, Spanish troops stubbornly occupied this site until November 1825 when they finally walked away into history.

If You Go:

The Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristobal are both located in Old San Juan. A combination ticket to both is $5. The two sites are within walking distance of each other. They are also linked by the same trolley route. The trolley is free to ride.

You can visit the sites of El Cañuelo and the Fortin San Jeronimo but you cannot enter either of them. El Cañuelo has been filled with concrete by the U.S. National Park Service in order to prevent further deterioration and the Fortin San Jeronimo is closed behind a chain link fence.

The Castillo de San Marcos is located at 1 S. Castillo Drive St. Augustine, Florida. Admission is $10.

To reach the Fuerte de San Juan de Ulua in Veracruz, you must travel there by tour bus from the Malecon near the Mercado de Artesanias San Miguel Aleman Valdes on Avenida Insurgentes. The cost of the bus ride is 35 pesos. This does not include admission to the fort. The price of admission to the fort is 55 pesos. During the summer there is supposedly a boat that will take you directly across the harbor to the fort but our visit was in February so this cannot be confirmed.

About the author:
Troy Herrick, a freelance travel writer, has traveled extensively in North America, the Caribbean, Europe and parts of South America. His articles have appeared in Live Life Travel, International Living, Offbeat Travel and Travels Thru History Magazines.

Photographs:
All Photos by Diane Gagnon. A freelance photographer, she has traveled extensively in North America, the Caribbean, Europe and parts of South America. Her photographs have accompanied Troy Herrick’s articles in Live Life Travel, Offbeat Travel and Travels Thru History Magazines.

Italian Renaissance Gem in Steamy Miami

by Suzanne Ball

When people think of Miami, they picture sunny beaches, vibrant nightlife, art deco, and authentic Cuban food. But they often miss the chance to visit one of the country’s most historical mansions and example of Italian Renaissance style: Villa Vizcaya, described as “the finest private house ever built in America.”

Now called Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the estate was the dream of millionaire James Deering, heir of the International Harvester fortune. One of America’s original “snowbirds,” Deering began planning his winter residence in 1910. He chose 180 acres of primeval jungle, a few miles south of Miami, directly on Biscayne Bay. He envisioned guests approaching and first seeing the Main House by water, and wanted it to be near the shore so they could disembark as if in Venice. “Place my house on the bay,” he directed the architect.

Vizcaya was designed with an open central courtyard, surrounded by four towers. Although the exterior duplicates 18th century Italian architecture, the building was constructed with 20th century techniques to adapt to Miami’s subtropical climate. Deering was a trained engineer and insisted on a concrete structure with steel-enforced floors to combat humidity, decay, and termites. He included modern features such as an elevator, telephones, and an “annunciator” to beckon servants from anywhere in the house.

Construction on the Main House began in 1914 and was ready for Deering on Christmas Day, 1916. During the height of construction, Vizcaya hired ten percent of Miami’s workforce, as well as craftsmen and artists from Europe. Witold Rybczynski, Professor of Urbanism at University of Pennsylvania, explains the level of detail involved: “There are thousands of craftsmen and workers and iron work and the [roof] tiles came from Cuba … there were old homes in Cuba and they bought the whole roof and shipped them over because they liked the sort of old patina on these clay tiles so it was a very, very thought out project.”

Deering was a renowned and extravagant host. His many guests included actress Lilian Gish, Henry Ford, and President Warren G. Harding. He placed a concrete barge in the bay and used gondolas or motor boats to transport guests for tea and cocktails. He also arranged for concerts and fireworks from the barge, and guests would watch from the shore. Originally, in true Venetian manner, the barge and gardens were accessed by canals. Deering would guide visitors through the canals, ending at the barge or the nearby gazebo.

Then there is the Main House. Over 38,000 square feet, with 54 rooms. Today, visitors can view 34 decorated rooms with more than 2,500 original furnishings and art collections. Each formal room has a theme, color palate and lavish furnishings, often based on different Italian cities or historical periods. On the main floor, Milan inspired the Music Room; Palermo provides a Southern Italy influence in the Reception Room. Deering’s bedroom is furnished in the masculine style of the Napoleanic era. Visitors are astounded at the opulence of this winter residence, meant to be inhabited from November till the start of Lent.

Enormous quantities of Italian antiques and artwork were shipped to Vizcaya, overseen by Deering’s artistic director, Paul Chalfin. Chaflin was fluent in Italian and an expert in Italian furniture and decorative arts. Upon meeting, Deering and Chaflin struck an immediate friendship that lasted until Deering’s death. Vizcaya would be Chaflin’s only significant commission, yet an outstanding legacy.

A lifelong bachelor, Deering installed many activities that could especially be enjoyed by male guests; the swimming pool featured a covered grotto that extended into the sunlight. Today’s gift shop and café were once a bowling alley, billiards, smoking, and changing rooms. During a 2011 renovation after Hurricane Wilma caused extensive damage in 2005, care was taken to maintain the original marble and terrazzo floors, copper lighting fixtures, and leaded-glass doors.

Deering also wanted formal European gardens, adapted to the Florida climate and flora. The garden design included Deering’s favorite flower, orchids, with 2,000 specimens placed throughout the estate, and now in the new David A. Klein Orchidarium. The gardens were completed in 1923. Deering would only live for two more years to enjoy his magnificent estate. Suffering from pernicious anemia for years, he died on a steamship returning from Paris in 1925.

The ten acres of formal gardens are spectacular and well-maintained. Local coral stone was used for stairs and planters, with influences from Florence and Rome. Reflecting pools and well-trimmed hedges are abundant. Statues from 18th century villas in Italy decorate the gardens, along with antique busts and vases.

Vizcaya is a popular location for photography, especially for bridal and quinceañera (the celebration of a Latina girl’s 15th birthday) events. It has also been the venue for political meetings, including the 1987 meeting between president Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, and the 1984 Summit of the Americas hosted by President Bill Clinton.

2016 is the Centennial of this National Historic Landmark. In the humid climate, preservation of the Main House and its furnishings is ongoing. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is now maintained by the Miami-Dade County.

Transportation to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

If You Go:

♦ Viscaya Museum and Gardens is located at 3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33129. Parking is free.
♦ From downtown Miami, Vizcaya is 2.6 miles, about 7 minutes. From Miami Beach, 11 miles, 21 minutes. From South Beach, 8.7 miles, 17 minutes.
♦ Hours: open daily 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, except Tuesdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
♦ General admission is $18, with discounts for children, seniors, students, and military, and veterans.
♦ Accessibility: Vizcaya has limited handicapped access, due to the age of the building. There are many steps and uneven floors. Wheelchairs can use the original elevator; several ramps have been installed. Maps for access points are available.
♦ No photos or videos are permitted within the Main House. Visitors are welcome to take photos in the gardens and on the grounds.

About the author:
Suzanne Ball is a longtime freelance writer, specializing in travel and health topics. After walking the ancient 500-mile Camino de Santiago across northern Spain alone, she published an ebook to encourage other women and solo travelers to plan and pack for their own adventure. Other work has appeared in a Hilton Hotel magazine, Trip101, La Concha, and a variety of online websites and company blogs. Her personal blog was carried by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Suzanne loves it all: local, domestic, and international. She is a member of the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance.

All photos are by Suzanne Ball:
Main House overlooking Biscayne Bay.
Barge and gazebo, with Venetian posts
Pool grotto
Lower garden with coral stone steps and planters

by Karen Pacheco 

On Avenida Republica de Cuba, we stand before a yellow brick, neo-classical building reading the historical marker about El Circulo Cubano (the Cuban Club). This structure, built in 1917, contained a theater, pharmacy, library, ballroom and cantina, and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. We enter and ask the receptionist if we can look around. From her baffled reaction, we surmise she doesn’t get this request often. After a briefing on what’s viewable and what’s off limits, our exploration begins.

We’re not in Cuba. We’re in Ybor (pronounced EE-bor) an historic, multi-cultural neighbourhood of Tampa, Florida, former flourishing cigar centre of the world. From boom to bust, Ybor has reinvented itself in response to economic and political waves. While it’s not the rich environment it once was during the late 1890’s to 1929; this community has evolved into a delightful mix of culture, cuisine and history. To sample that, we begin by walking the avenidas to explore some historic structures built during Ybor’s golden era.

In the Cuban Club we climb tiled stairs, woven with ornate wrought-iron railing to the second floor lobby. An expansive area with inviting overstuffed chairs nestle in one corner; plaques honouring past leaders dot the walls. Sunlight splashes through aged curtains lighting the white with gold trim bar. Cane chairs are stacked on the bar’s carved wooden ledge; mirrors behind, fogged and cracked with age.

Fortuitously, we run into Jesus (pronounced Hey-SUS) Cuban-American caretaker at the Circula Cubano. He shows us an entanglement of knob-and-tube wiring; its replacement on his to do list. Pleased by our interest in the building, he offers a tour. We learn that Jesus’ family was among approximately 500,000 Cubans who immigrated to Florida between 1959 and 1980, motivated by politics and economics.

Our eager guide escorts us to the two-level 450-seat theater, ballroom, cantina and salon. Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey’s big bands once played in the grand ballroom here. Now it’s primarily a wedding reception venue; not what it once was, but still alive and thriving.

A population that grew from 800 in 1880, to 16,000 in 1900, fueled development of mutual aid societies like El Circulo Cubano. Risk-taking entrepreneurs Ignacio Haya, a Spanish cigar manufacturer from New York, and Don Vincente Martinez-Ybor, a Spanish immigrant to Cuba, brought the cigar industry.

Martinez-Ybor acquired forty acres northeast of downtown Tampa in 1885 for its proximity to a port and railway, and its favourable climate. In 1929, there were two hundred cigar factories (Martinez-Ybor’s and others) producing over 500 million cigars annually. Ybor gained the indisputable title ‘cigar capital of the world’. Martinez-Ybor’s original three-storey factory on 9th Avenue built in 1886, continued to operate as a cigar plant until after World War II. It then transitioned from galleries and studios, to marketplaces and a restaurant. The Church of Scientology acquired it in 2010. Its striking red brick exterior dominates the beginning of Ybor’s street trolley route and the historic district that evolved around it.

Besides a Cuban social club, Ybor has several others: Italian, Spanish and German. These mutual aid societies provided educational, social and medical services for their ethnic group. Two of them had hospitals; some had boxing and dancing lessons. Tabaqueros (tobacco workers) paid weekly dues for each family member for these services. Social clubs enriched Latinas’ lives during those years.

We stroll towards La Septima (7th Avenue) Ybor’s commercial centre. Here we visit the Italian Club whose mission is similar to that of others–honour culture and “… maintain the historical facility as a functioning memorial to the working class immigrants.” We’re welcomed to browse the building. Today, wine vendors host a convention in the ballroom. Renting out rooms and historical preservation grants help to keep these once thriving clubs afloat.

Continuing along La Septima we amble past storefronts noting a variety of cigars offered: doble robustos, torpedos, Churchills and even orange, coffee and strawberry flavoured. We stop to watch some cigar makers rolling by hand using a cutting board, Chavata (knife) and shaping tools. About one hundred years ago, factories were filled with more than a thousand cigar workers (tabaqueros). The final steps were completed by the highly skilled and well paid torcedores. Lectors read to them to lighten the tedium of the task. Most made decent wages as they were paid by piecework. And, yes, a few women were among these workers.

Our walk continues along La Septima. Patrons at outside tables, listen to toe taping Latina music, sip a Café Cubano (espresso, sweetened with demarara sugar) and puff on their cigars. The acrid smoke invades our non-smokers’ nostrils; we won’t be sampling. For those partaking, it’s seems a leisurely, relaxed indulgence.

All this walking wakens our appetite. Lunch is at the oldest restaurant in Florida, the Columbia Restaurant, founded in 1905, the cigar industry’s zenith. This one-of-a-kind eatery consumes a whole city block, contains fifteen dining rooms and a lavish bar worth the visit to see. Patrons line up, some coming on bus tours to enjoy this gem of culinary history. The menu offers a variety of Spanish, Cuban, Italian, and fusion selections: Spanish bean soup, Cuban black bean soup and the award-winning ‘1905 salad’ Columbia’s original, along with a mixto (Cuban sandwich) a multi-cultural mix of ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese and mustard on Cuban bread. A pitcher of Sangria or Mojitos goes well with most menu items. Flamenco dancers perform nightly.

Cuban sandwiches are still made with Cuban bread baked at La Segunda Centrale nearby. This bakery also continues as a family owned and operated business, celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year. The guava turnovers are highly recommended.

Another historic building where one can feast is Carne, located in the former El Centro Espanol (Spanish Social Club). A red-bricked edifice with white stones accenting arched windows, hosts this restaurant. Cast iron balconies and a simple, but formidable Moorish-style archway, add to its unique French Renaissance Revival architecture. Now it’s home to shops, businesses and Carne, the restaurant where previously we enjoyed the early bird prime rib dinner and Finlandia Martinis. Both meal and beverage were bargains, generously portioned and palette pleasing.

Our Ybor sampling of culture, history, and cuisine comes to an end–minds and stomachs sate. This unique village illustrates survival, tenacity and cultural pride. Viva Ybor!

Historic Ybor City Food Tour

If You Go:

♦ The TECO line streetcar system from downtown Tampa to Ybor takes under fifteen minutes
♦ If you are in Tampa either departing on or returning from a cruise, it’s a rewarding day trip to Ybor
♦ A pleasant diversion from the beach scene, about a forty-minute drive from Gulf beaches to Ybor
♦ Take a break from Disney Orlando and go to Ybor (1 hr. 15 mins. 82 miles along I-4 West)
♦ History and photographs from Ybor’s past
♦ Columbia Restaurant (reservations recommended)
♦ Carne Chop House
♦ La Segunda Centrale Bakery

About the author:
Karen’s interest in the visual arts began with media studies at SFU. Her passion for travel photography was sealed when given a Pentax SP 1000 prior to a year’s trip to Europe, Middle East and Africa (1975-1976). Her career as an educator ended with an assignment in Shenzhen, China, allowing for Asian travel opportunities. Since then, she has devoted her time to photography and freelance writing. Recent travels include the Canadian Maritimes, Hawaii, western USA National Parks and the southeast United States. Karen is a member of the Delta Photo Club, B.C. Association of Travel Writers and CAPA (Canadian Association for Photographic Art). Several of her images have won awards. Her work can be viewed at: northohana.zenfolio.com

All photos by Karen Pacheco:
El Circulo Cubano façade
El Circulo Cubano bar
Jesus with author’s husband (El Circulo Cubano)
Entrance to Ybor, historic red brick cigar factory
Cigar roller
Columbia Restaurant
El Centro Espaniol

Key West Florida

by Edward Quan 

With a reputation as a womanizer, a heavy drinker, all while pursuing high adventure such as big game hunting in Africa, Ernest Hemingway was one of America’s greatest novelists during the 20th century. He was also a highly disciplined writer who even after a long night of drinking, would rise at seven every morning to his private studio above his garage. This is where he composed some of his greatest literary novels, resulting in winning the Pulitzer Prize for Literature.

My journey to experience more of Hemingway’s legendary life began with a flight to sun filled Miami, home to some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in America. It’s a four-hour drive across the majestic Florida Keys islands to The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, located in Old Town district of Key West Florida, the farthest southern point in the continental United States. It’s a small island community surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean where you can actually view Cuba, which is only 90 miles away.

In 1928, Ernest Hemingway arrived at this tranquil island haven from Paris with his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, an accomplished journalist and contributor to Vogue Paris fashion magazine. The residence was a wedding gift from Pauline’s wealthy uncle Gus Pfeiffer, given to them in 1931.

Built in a Spanish Colonial style, this two-story residence stands in grandeur painted in white with mustard color shutters, framing its large bay windows. Above, roof covered balconies surround the upstairs bedrooms offering a quiet sanctuary from hot summer days. Lush green gardens filled with colorful flowers surround the property, like a rich tropical oasis. It was and still is the largest residential property on the island of Key West. Located across the street from the front gate is the Key West lighthouse, which opened in 1848. This six and one-half story tall white tower was an important landmark for Hemingway personally, as it helped him find his way home after each night of drinking.

As I toured the house, you are immersed with Hemingway’s remarkable literary achievements. Each bedroom commemorates one of his great novels. The rooms are filled with personal mementos such as European hand carved antique furniture, life size trophy heads and animal skins from his African’s safaris and hunting trips from across the American west. He drew his inspiration for his boundless writings from many of these treasures.

Across from the main house and high above the garage Hemingway’s private studio features an old manual typewriter on a rich mahogany table, paired with a sturdy leather-covered chair. The walls are covered with more of his personal hunting trophies. Shelves filled with his hardcover books sit between the floor to ceiling bay windows. You can sense Hemingway’s true discipline as a writer when entering his studio; everything seems to have its place.

The most lavish feature of his residence is the 60 foot long, 24 foot wide, 10 foot deep in-ground aqua blue colored swimming pool, carved from the same solid coral bedrock which Key West Island sits upon. In the 1930’s, no one had a swimming pool, as there was no fresh running water on the island. Therefore, the 80,000-gallon lighted swimming pool had to be filled by drilling down to the salt-water table and pumping the water into the pool. Filling the pool took nearly three days and during the summer months, salt water would only stay fresh for a few days. As a result, each week the pool had to be drained, the pool surfaces cleaned of algae, and then refilled again.

The cost of building the swimming pool was US$20,000, which was outlandish considering that Gus Pfeiffer only paid US$8,000 for the entire property. Hemingway is the one who proposed building the pool, yet he complained bitterly to Pauline about its high expense during construction. Our tour guide shared with us a story of Hemingway throwing down a penny at Pauline’s feet on the pool patio shouting, “Pauline, you’ve spend all but my last penny, so you might as well have that!” As Hemingway’s novels were rewritten as screenplays for motion pictures, Hollywood producers and movie stars were calling and Pauline was determined to host the most extravagant poolside parties on the island. Today, you can view a penny embedded in the concrete pool patio, which memorializes Hemingway’s lost battle with his wife.

As I explored the residence grounds I came across several cats, all named after Hollywood stars from the 1930’s such as Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Hemingway’s household included a six-toed white cat named Snow White, which was given to him by a ship captain. Sailors considered these unique cats to be good luck, as they were very effective at catching vermin on board ships. Today, the only residences of The Hemingway Home and Museum are 47 polydactyl (six-toed) cats and it is believed that Snow White descendants live on the grounds today. Your average household cat has five front toes and four back toes. With the polydactyl gene in their DNA, that allows them to produce six-toed off spring.

Unsurprisingly, Ernest and Pauline Hemingway divorced in 1940 resulting in Ernest moving to his summer house in Cuba with fellow correspondent Martha Gellhorn, soon to be wife number three, for the next chapter of his dramatic life.

The Hemingway House and Museum gives you a unique window into the influence and legacy of one of the greatest writers of our time. It is well worth a visit during your next trip to Florida.

Key West Ultimate Island Experience

If You Go:

♦ The Hemingway Home & Museum 907 Whitehead St. Key West, Florida. Guided tours available. Hours: 9 am – 5 pm, open every day including holidays.

♦ Key West has an airport, cruise ship terminal and is the start of US Highway 1. Rent a vehicle in Miami and experience one of my top ten US scenic drives; Highway 1, a 113-mile drive over 42 magnificent bridges across Florida’s Keys coral islands. Majority of the highway is only two lanes; allow up to four hours driving time from Miami.

♦ Caribbean hurricane season is from summer to fall, recommend the winter months to avoid rainy days.

♦ Truman Hotel, a trendy boutique hotel in the heart of Key West. Easy walking distance to Hemingway’s House & Museum and Duval Street with restaurants, bars and shopping.

♦ Two local flavors that you must experience when visiting Key West. Crispy conch fritters, a large shelled sea creature and key lime pie made from locally grown limes. No visit would be complete without a visit to Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant on Duval St. for drinks and souvenirs.

Key West Pub Crawl

About the author:
Edward Quan is a fashion and travel writer with a background as a European luxury fashion buyer. He lives and breathes the world of high fashion. From the style capitals across the globe, he shares their influences on designer fashion from art and culture, music and cinema, to history and architecture. Writing exceptional stories on personal style while traveling well, featuring the latest news on the fashion scene, luxury hotels and resorts, fine food and wine and of course, shopping. Learn more about Edward Quan by visiting his fashion column Style Drama that appears in The Bahamas Weekly In addition, he is a guest journalist with Retail-Insider, and member of the BC Association of Travel Writers.

All photos are by LM Quan:
The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Old Town district of Key West, Florida.
One of the many photos on display that chronicles Ernest Hemingway’s life and times during his nine years in the Florida Keys.
Pauline, Ernest Hemmingway’s second wife, pursued a luxurious Hollywood lifestyle with extravagant poolside parties.
Ernest Hemingway studio resides above his garage with his desk and manual typewriter surrounded by his personal mementos.
One of 47 polydactyl (six-toed) cats that reside at the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum.

Where Pictures Speak More Than A Thousand Words

by Roy A. Barnes

Key West, Florida, has come a long way from its days in the earlier 20th century when novelist Thelma Strabel wrote in 1940, “There is nothing for restless people to do. It is quiet and careless and charming.” I found the Spring Break hotspot to be one of the country’s most touristy places on the surface. Yet here, amidst all the sailboats, warm and breezy tropical conditions, outdoor cafes lining the city’s main drag called Duvall Street where the words “I’ll have Key Lime Pie” is uttered over and over, I found a place where its quirky aspects make it a memorable . For those things that reflect the culture, traditions, and unique flavors resonate more with me than the typical tourist quest to find “Margaritaville.”

Why did the Key West Chickens cross the road?

I soon found out while walking in Old Town that one doesn’t just share sidewalks with droves of locals and tourists wearing short shorts, but many other two-footed creatures who have ditched any clothes altogether: chickens. While these fowl have been around for almost two centuries, their numbers especially grew in the 1950s after Cubans fleeing Cuba brought them for use in cock fighting, food, and eggs. Their numbers multiplied over time after cock fighting was outlawed and grocery stores provided easier access to eggs and poultry. The roosters don’t just crow with the sunrise either as I found out at 230 a.m. in my hotel room. Nonetheless, there’s what seems to be an uneasy tolerance for the chickens’ presence here because they do feast on pesky insects, even though they have irritated many locals because of where they choose to poop, trespass, etc. This has resulted in various plans and schemes to deal with them over the years in what’s been called the “Great Key West Chicken Controversy” or “Key West Chicken Wars.”

I noticed that chickens will often scamper at the sight of a camera, but if you really want a good picture of them, they are more apt to stay put as you focus your camera at the post office on 400 Whitehead Street, which is just a couple of blocks west of the main drag Duvall Street.

Those sunsets, those sunsets!

A setting sun has this ability to captivate the eyes of its admirers. I’ve seen beautiful sunsets in Wyoming, but I must say that the two I saw in Key West really gripped me so unexpectedly, for I never imagined sunsets being that impacting. I first watched one from the brick walkway of Mallory Square, which overlooks the Gulf of Mexico, and the other while on a sunset cruise.

As I got closer to Mallory Square to view my first Key West sunset, the sounds of blues music and the humming of the crowd dominated as I arrived at the adjacent outdoor restaurant called Sunset Pier. Many folks were snapping pictures as the setting sun tried to make it to the horizon before being overtaken by massive clouds, even while sailboats continuously darted across the gulf. At the square were other sights and scents I took note of, including the heavenly scent of buttered popcorn mixed with the saltiness of the sea, various musical and theatrical acts (which one performer employed his dog to take tips from the onlookers’ hands and deposit it in a bucket). One outspoken guy was selling Jesus to the onlookers as if Mallory Square were the tropical version of London’s Speakers’ Corner.

The next night’s sunset was even more impressive for me, as the Key West sunset cruise set sail around the shores of the island city as I sat back and watched the sun disappear behind the horizon.   The sun was still in full glory, but gusty winds helped to keep me and the other passengers cooler. I observed the other cruisers. They all seemed to be from another planet, given that their faces had this “never been stressed out look” on them. Jimmy Buffet music blared from the loudspeakers as the champagne and other liquid inducements flowed.

This place does seem to be the “land of the eternal summer,” for others who live in the Northern Hemisphere were retreating to the warmth of their domiciles while I was alone with my thoughts in the open waters. Once the sun set, the skies entertained my eyes with a violet-orange haze before total darkness came except for the lights of distant ships, glowing like distant Christmas trees. Never had darkness brought so much beauty.

“Conch Architecture”

I strongly advise travelers in Key West to get off the beaten path from the touristy Duvall Street, and walk through the surrounding residential neighborhoods of Old Town. It’s here where I found a respite from the hustle and bustle of traffic while getting a glimpse into a unique kind of architecture called Conch Architecture. This style compliments the various plantlife in the area like hibiscus, fiscus, gumbo limbo, and frangipani. Earlier settlers of Key West used lime made from burned Conch shells to help build their homes, which became known as “Conch Houses”, a name which would stick even as wood became the prime building material.

These homes implement different styles, influenced by New England, Gulf Coast, Bahamian, and African influences. To my eyes, they greatly reminded me of the old plantation homes still found in the “Deep South” such as seen in such movies like Gone with the Wind. They are built to help withstand the tropical climate. I especially noticed the sloping roofs, which help reflect the sun better and sent water down to the gutters more efficiently.

One of the best-preserved neighborhoods I found is just a few blocks from the pulsating energy of Duvall Street. From the intersection of Duvall Street and Truman Ave. (US 1), walk East several blocks until you get to Windsor Ave., then turn left and begin walking north (you’ll come to a fork which gives you the option of continuing north on either Elizabeth, William, or Margaret Streets) until you get to the Key West Seaport. This walk alone will give you a good idea of what a residential tropical neighborhood is like. Many of these homes sell for a million dollars and up, but admiring from the sidewalk is still free.

As for Duvall Street itself, I noticed that even popular chain stores like Walgreens have had their structures conforming to the “Conch” aesthetics.

See a Little “White House” Without All the Fuss

As a U.S. presidential history buff, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could easily visit a place where numerous Presidents of the United States stayed and performed their duties, most notably Harry S. Truman. He lived and worked at “The Little White House” for 175 days via 11 working vacations from 1946-1952. Even on “vacation” here, he still had to sign his name 200-600 times a day to help keep the country running in a place originally built for the US Navy’s base commander and paymaster in 1890. Unlike the other White House farther north, I didn’t have to make any special arrangements or go through any other fuss to walk around a property containing the 8,700 square foot house and nicely-manicured lawn and gardens. It’s in the midst of a quiet neighborhood, a short walk away from Duvall Street. I can see why our past leaders must’ve found the property to be a respite just as I did from the boisterous tourist crowds.

Besides Truman, other presidents have stayed here, so visiting means you’ve set foot on grounds that America’s most famous people have, like Dwight W. Eisenhower, who recovered from a from a heart attack here in late 1955 to early 1956. John F. Kennedy met with British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1961 a few weeks before the Bay of Pigs. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton have also stayed here. Other people of note who’ve used this place include former Secretary of State Colin Powell to hold peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2001 while Thomas Edison stayed here half a year in 1918 to conjure up some new weapons during World War I. The Defense Department was created here by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

If You Go:

♦ Sebago Key West
♦ Harry S. Truman Little White House:
♦ Florida Keys Tourism:

About the author:
Roy A. Barnes writes from southeastern Wyoming and is a frequent contributor to Travel thru History. The author attended a press trip sponsored by Florida Keys Tourism, but what he wrote is his own observations, and not vetted by the sponsor.

First Key West sunset photo by Yinan Chen from Pixabay
All other pictures credited to Roy A. Barnes, Carol Tedesco, and Carol Shaughnessy, and may not be used without permission.

by Roy A. Barnes

The Florida Keys are made up of some 1,700 islands. From Miami to Key West, this archipelago stretches over 150 miles alone. It’s here where I found some unique saltwater kayaking opportunities stretching from Cow Key to Key Largo.

Kayaking through the Cow Key Channel

The two hour, 1.5 mile roundtrip through the Cow Key Channel beginning at US Highway MM (mile marker) 4.1 (just outside of Key West) with Lazy Dog Kayak Guides involved a steady current that’s heavily influenced by the two high and low tides coming from both the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean each day. The firm breeze helped to counter the muggy conditions. Bethany and her four-legged companion Tucker (a.k.a. “Mr. T”) served as our guides.

Through her guidance as we kayaked through open waters 2-10 foot deep, a natural mangrove creek and one “hurricane hole” (a pond surrounded by mangroves that offer more protection from hurricanes), I got an up close and personal view of primary Red Mangrove trees, whose prop roots filter out about 95 per cent of the saltwater while the trees’ leaves sacrifice themselves to filter out the rest of the salt so the trees can have “potable” water. Their death means decomposition in the channel, which creates the soil ingredients to build up the small islands.

In my 12 foot Perception model, I heard the soundtrack of Osprey, Great Blue and White Heron as I paddled through the waters, ranging in depth of two to ten feet. Bethany often stopped alongside the mangrove growth to educate our group about the plant and animal life thriving here, letting us hold them, like the prickly-feeling Florida Spiny Sea Star, and the Sea Cucumber, which has the feel of its vegetable counterpart. She was excited when she came across a government-protected Queen Conch, a large creepy-looking snail that would make the subject of a good horror film.

Venturing to the Key with “No Name”

Just four miles off of US 1 at MM 30, I found a more isolated, off the beaten path world, where I kayaked roundtrip over a couple of hours in waters 1-18 feet in depth from Big Pine Key to the No Name Key (where the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion was staged). The winds whistled through the palms on a mostly cloudy morning and afternoon, helping to keep the heat and mugginess in check. Our guide from Big Pine Kayak Adventures was Bill Keogh. He’s kayaked 800-plus of the Florida Keys.

Like Bethany at Cow Key, Keogh’s four-footed friend joined, a friendly mixed breed named Scupper, who quickly won my fondness. As we set off from Big Pine Key, the scent of sulfur permeated my nostrils because of the decomposing seagrass which this key catches from Florida Bay. Getting to No Name Key meant crossing the Bogie Channel’s choppy waters (about a 1/3 mile long) in a 12 foot Vapor that weighed 50 pounds.

When I looked down into the more shallow waters, I caught the sight of flat Turtle Grass, round Manatee Grass, and soft-looking Shoal Grass waving back and forth. Being out in this wide channel heightened my sense of isolation from the hustle and bustle only a few miles away. My eyes took in the sight of a kettle of turkey vultures heading south for winter. Arriving at the No Name Key, we paddled into a deep mangrove forest via a very narrow creek, so narrow that I dismantled my paddle into halves, using one along with low-hanging branches to navigate hundreds of feet. But awaiting my camera was a camouflaged Yellow-Crowned Night Heron bouncing around from tree to tree as well as a variety of crabs climbing the densely-packed branches.

Breakfast and pelting rain in Boot Key Harbor

“Kayak Dave” said this about how one paddles a kayak, “It’s like sex, so long as you’re having fun, it doesn’t matter how you do it!” He admonished me to turn my body more instead of my elbow during my three mile roundtrip to and from Boot Key (where Radio Marti broadcasts to Cuba take place) as light to moderate rain pelted me from above the first half of my journey. Thunder and lightning thankfully weren’t part of the storm. We started out at Sombrero Beach on Marathon’s Vaca Key, facing the Atlantic. This Key is named for “the cow of the sea,” the manatee. Vaca is Spanish for cow.

En route to Boot Key via Boot Key Harbor my eyes caught sight of million dollar homes sharing the shorelines with red mangrove forests. The snowy egrets were plentiful, but very camera shy when approaching them for a close up shot. My 12.5 foot, 44 pound Cobra Navigator was much more prone to capsize as I navigated through this Key’s creek. The tree branches created such an obstacle that leaning into them wrongly could result in capsizing. “No-see-ums” (biting midges) terrorized my eyes inside the still waters, but I was covered up otherwise, avoiding further torture. I at least caught my first glimpse of a yellowish nurse shark as it swam at the bottom of the creek.

The longest 1.5 miles in the Key Largo area

I’d never forget the challenges I faced over 1.5 miles using a sea kayak the first time. One of the realities of this sport is that weather plays a pivotal role on one’s experience. I set off from Key Largo into Garden Cove in a Current Designs 17 foot, 52 pound sit-in model. The 25 knot winds immediately caused me to drift about in the rough waters either because my foot pedal adjustments (foot pedals move the rudder) made on shore didn’t lock in and/or I didn’t keep my feet fully on them.

It came at a time when I needed to cross an area shared by motorboats; and thus, fear almost got the better of me. But thankfully, my guide Todd of Florida Bay Outfitters and another really skilled kayaker came back to “rescue” me, getting on both sides of my vessel to readjust the foot pedals. I made my way southward down North Sound Creek, which separates Key Largo from Rattlesnake Key. It was here where I’d see the beginnings of another red mangrove island, as numerous red mangrove trees were scattered about like an archipelago obstacle course.

For as the gusts of winds blew this way and that in the creek (which were less strong), I found myself getting stuck against the trees, which meant that Todd had to fall back from the rest of the group to bail me out. I’ll admit that the wind is something that I found hard to deal with even as sunny skies above at least kept me dry. Nonetheless, as we ventured back to Key Largo across the cove, the guide had to tow me in the headwinds part of the way. Still, I had to still paddle my kayak, trying to emulate the strong motions he did in leading me safely, even as the swells hit my boat, splashing salt water on my jacket, face, and mouth. I found shelter against some mangroves while waiting for him to come back with others.

Florida Keys Private Snorkel n’ Sandbar Party for Small Group

If You Go:

♦ Lazy Dog Kayak Guides: www.lazydog.com
♦ Big Pine Kayak Adventures: www.keyskayaktours.com
♦Kayak Dave’s Adventures South Florida Kayak Tours: www.kayaktoursflorida.com
♦Florida Bay Outfitters: www.kayakfloridakeys.com
♦Florida Keys Tourism Council: www.fla-keys.com
(Tours and equipment used are subject to change.)

Key West Full-Day Power Adventure: Sailing and Water Sports

About the author:
Roy writes from southeastern Wyoming, and is a frequent contributor to Travel thru History.
Disclosure: The writer attended a press trip sponsored by Florida Keys Tourism Council but what he wrote were his impressions that were not vetted by the sponsor.

All photos by Roy A. Barnes and may not be used without permission.

Miami, Florida

by Inka Piegsa-quischotti

You can’t visit Miami without being reminded of the Seminoles, the Miccosukee and the Tequesta, South Florida’s native American ancestors. What better pastime for a rainy Friday afternoon than leaving the glamour of South Beach behind and diving into the exciting history of the Indians with a visit to the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, located at 101 West Flagler Street in downtown Miami.

On entering a museum, you do not necessarily expect to be greeted by the sound of excited children, squealing in delight. But that’s exactly what happens, when you visit on what the museum offers as a “Family afternoon”. The first thing that distinguishes the HMSF from rather awe inspiring places like the British Museum in London or the Prado in Madrid, is that this a what I call a ‘hands on’ venue which has a unique way of bringing history to life. Combining entertainment with education in a way which enthralls even smaller children is no mean feat!

The fun already starts at the entrance where the visitor is greeted by a multi colored huge statue of Florida’s signature bird: the flamingo. The flamingo in question is not only colorful but also wears boots and glasses. The tone is set! Climbing the sweeping staircase to the main exhibition hall on the first floor, my eyes are met by a spectacular mural depicting the most important archaeological find in recent years in Miami: The Miami Circle.

As is so often the case, the Miami Circle came to light by chance. In 1998 a work crew started excavations to lay the foundation for a new hotel and apartment block on Biscayne Boulevard between Flagler Street and Brickell Avenue Bridge bordering the Miami River. Below grass covered mounds, they discovered a huge circle of rocks with deep round holes cut into it.

Building work was stopped and the Historical Museums’ archaeologists got involved in unearthing an ancient sacred site belonging to the prehistoric Tequesta Indians, whose presence on the banks of the Miami River were known to the Spanish conqueror Ponce de Leon in 1513. The big surprise and historical relevance of the sacred site was that the Tequesta population and culture was much older than originally thought. Named “First Arrivals” many artifacts recovered from the site are now exhibited in the museum and the big mural gives a first hand impression of the Tequesta’s life and ceremonies.

Excavations of the Circle continue and the Tequesta ancestry of Miami is being commemorated and honored by a park with the circle as its center piece and due to open to the public at the end of this year.

The Museum is not only dedicated to the Indian past of Miami and South Florida but also to the founding fathers – and mothers – of the city, like Henry Flagler and Julia Tuttle. In fact is gives a comprehensive over view with a sin fin of exhibits, photographs and videos.

A big part of the first floor is reserved for the Seminole and the Miccosukee culture and that’s where my primary interest lies. Both tribes, which are closely related, came to Southern Florida from Georgia in the early 1700 and were originally Creek Indians. Fierce and proud people, they have a history of fearless wars and an indomitable spirit of survival.

Paintings and documents trace the Seminole’s and Miccosukee’s past to today’s habitat in the Everglades. Dividers in the museum floor re-create Indian dwellings, fishing implements and their elaborate and multi colored jewelry and patchwork clothes. And that’s where I found the happy children!

On Family Friday Afternoons, the kids are allowed to actually touch selected museum pieces, to climb into early settler’s huts, and to dress up in clothing provided by the museum. Adults too can play at pirate with hats and plastic swords. Small wonder, that this museum is a hit when it comes to teach children their own history.

I was lucky to meet the curator, Jorge Zamanillo, who allowed me to visit the museum’s storage facility where I could marvel at the immense collection of beautifully crafted feather head dresses, bead jewelry and patchwork clothes, all finely stitched by hand. Hand woven baskets and Seminole dolls complete the picture of their culture. The exhibits rotate and are kept and maintained in the vaults.

Back upstairs, I continued my turn around the exhibition floor. Miami did once have a street car and a fine example complete with bell, carried another lot of excited children who on Fridays are allowed to climb in and play passenger and driver.

Not forgotten is the tragic and heart rending story of the Cuban refuges who risked their lives in swimming nutshells to escape to the safety and freedom of the United States. You have to see one of those incredibly small and fragile boats to get a feeling for the despair which people must feel to risk a voyage across the Ocean defying storms, sharks, hunger, thirst, illness and the Coast Guard to make it to Miami’s shores.

Apart from the permanent exhibitions, the museum offers workshops and guided tours. The day I visited, a Cuban chef demonstrated downstairs how to make canapés in the shape of penguins from split dates, stuffed with cream cheese and decorated with wedges of dried mango as beak and feet. Needless to say, that parents and kids alike, joined in with gusto and you could even keep and eat the birds you made. All for free.

Apart from the workshops the museum runs a very popular program of guided tours. Dr. George, one of the museum’s historians, is a Miami institution and leads tours along the Miami River, a Night Walk and a Walk around the Art Deco District among others. These tours can only be booked directly thought the museum’s website.

The museum shop downstairs, offers a huge selection of books, postcards, memorabilia and souvenirs, which are hard to resist.

Rarely have I visited a museum which has so completely absorbed my imagination and made me long to learn more of all aspects of Miami’s and South Florida’s history. If a museum is capable of inspiring that desire I think it has fulfilled its mission.

If You Go:

Historical Museum of Southern Florida, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami Tel: 305 375 1492 Closed on Mondays, for further information, admittance, tours and opening times consult www.hmsf.org.

About the author:
Inka Piegsa-quischotte is an ex-attorney turned travel writer and novelist. She writes for online travel magazines and has two novels and a travel guide to Galicia/Spain published. She lives between Turkey and Miami.

All photos are by Inka Piegsa-quischotte.

Homes of Splendor, Speed and Spirit

by Roy A. Barnes

Daytona Beach, Florida, is known nationally as hosting the famed Daytona 500 and has been a hot spot for young hedonistic Spring Breakers to kick up their heels at “The World’s Most Famous Beach”, called that because from 1903-36, all land and speed records were set here. Yet this place is more than somewhere to get a nice tan or to escape from the wintry climates. This Florida coastal city offers more than just spring break opportunities!

The Casements: A Floridian Haunt of Big Oil

Back in 1918, John D. Rockefeller became upset when he found out that the Ormond Hotel was overcharging him because he was super-rich. He graced the Daytona Beach area during winters for his health, so this revelation that he was being “taken” didn’t set well with him. Rockefeller’s solution: he bought the grand home across the street from the hotel, which had been owned by a well-off preacher. This three-story domicile (originally built in 1912, but expanded to 14 rooms and 14 bathrooms by Rockefeller) features casement-style windows, which is where The Casements designation comes from. The home contains many of the Rockefeller family furnishings, pictures, and other artifacts, including an actual ledger used by the billionaire. The Casements is on a 70 acre site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It serves as an area cultural center for artists and arts lovers.

The Casements isn’t just a shrine to Rockefeller. On the third floor are two museums. One honors the Boy Scouts of America, featuring numerous patches, flags, and period uniforms from this renowned organization, with a heavy focus on Floridian troops. The other museum showcases Hungarian folk art and costumes.

Is the former home of Rockefeller haunted? According to one tour guide, back in 2003 or so, a sound of a crashing mirror or glass object rang through the house from the third floor, but it was discovered that no one was upstairs, and the object that made the apparent noise was never found. Rockefeller died onsite May 23, 1937 at the age of 97.

Eat Where A Former US President Crafted Walking Canes

The Cellar is the former wintertime stay of the controversial President Warren G. Harding. It was built as a Victorian home in 1907 by his father-in-law, who opposed his daughter marrying Harding. This Italian restaurant gets its name from the fact that it’s located downstairs. President Harding used to make walking canes here. The rest of the rooms in the house serve as private residencies.

Start out with a wide selection of antipasti dishes, as many of them come with vinaigrette dressings. I went with the Brescola con Insalata di Palma, which features lightly smoked flavored beef slices, and a light salad made up of heart of palm, fennel (root), and greens.

For your main course, The Cellar offers a generous selection of homemade pasta entrees (like ribbon pasta with roasted rabbit sauce called Fettuccine con Ragi di Coniglio), chicken, and meat dishes. I tried the Pollo Alla Lombardia, which was a tasty and tender stuffed chicken breast full of ricotta cheese and spinach that was roasted in a mushroom sauce. It came with vegetables that were agreeable to my palate.

As for dessert, The Cellar offers many homemade delights including several varieties of imported Italian gelato. I will advise that the chocolate desserts are not sweet. They are more European in tradition, in that they are more focused on the bitter chocolate taste rather than the sweetness aspect. Such included the Cioccolatissimo, which is a baby chocolate cake with a molten chocolate center, a chocolate sauce, and crème Anglaise served with gelato. I tasted more of the flour aspect of the cake than the sugar!

The cellar has a nice selection of red and white wines, as well as beer, including a couple choices of non-alcoholic, like Beck’s. The service is very friendly, and you won’t be rushed through dinner. Just like in the old country, the mealtime experience is done at a leisurely pace. When The Cellar is busy, you will hear quite the festive atmosphere because of the low ceilings.

Get Some Direction at the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse

Lighthouses have helped many ships navigate safely. This certainly applies to the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, which is just 12 miles south of Daytona Beach. It was put to use in November 1887, to serve as a guiding light for those ships navigating between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral. The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse reigns as Florida’s tallest lighthouse, rising 175 feet into the air, and is only one of ten current National Historic Landmark Lighthouses in the USA. Once called the Mosquito Inlet Lighthouse, the name of the inlet was changed to honor the first European to explore Florida back in the 16th century, due mainly to attract more tourism.

John Mann, a retired school administrator from New Jersey, was my tour guide. His wife (a retired teacher) helped to get him hooked on lighthouses when she “dragged” him on some lighthouse tours around New Jersey for school field trips. Since the late 1980’s, Mr. Mann has visited hundreds of lighthouses in the USA and Canada! Mann wears a circa 1930’s all-year white uniform as he gives tours of the grounds, which includes the three restored homes of lighthouse keepers as well as six other lighthouse complex buildings. The Principal Lighthouse Keeper’s house serves as a comprehensive museum about sailing along the Florida coast, with numerous displays, artifacts, and even interactive exhibits where you can hear various sounds of the sea like tugboat horns and crashing waves. A special exhibit on the history and workings of lighthouse beacons and Fresnel lighthouse lenses is housed in another building on the grounds.

The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is one of the best restored and maintained lighthouse complexes in this nation. The actual walkways are made up of the 15 million bricks that were shipped from Maryland and New York to construct the buildings. Mann easily walked the 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse viewing area. Now, only during special events can people climb another ten steps to get a look-see of the lighthouse’s 1933 Fresnel Lens, which shines out some 18 miles into the Atlantic.

Lighthouse keeping was a lonely, but rather good living for those who took part. Back in 1896, a keeper made as much as 760 dollars per year and got free housing. Outside the complex, visitors can partake in a coastal woodland nature walk and view a cat cemetery that honors the lighthouse kitties who gave companionship to the keepers!

Daytona is Home to NASCAR

No visit to Daytona Beach would be complete without a stop at Daytona USA. It’s on the same grounds as the 480 acre Daytona International Speedway, and features an interactive museum full of race car-themed history exhibits and simulated racing attractions. One such attraction is a roller coaster like ride called “Daytona Dream Laps”, where you can experience what it’s like to race in the Daytona 500. The admission price includes a tour of this great American race track. If you happen to visit during practice runs or time trials, I will warn you that the sounds of the speeding race cars is quite piercing, especially outside of the stands, which can hold close to 168,000 fans, not including the infield crowds, which bring roughly another 80,000 fans in during The 500!

To go with your visit to Daytona World, stop near the former home of Daytona’s great racing track on the beach for some excellent racing atmosphere and great food. It’s called Racing’s North Turn Beach Bar & Grille. It’s just north of the old Daytona racing course’s North Turn, where many car and motorcycle races took place before the International Speedway began hosting the Daytona 500 in 1959. There is something really special about coming into a place that’s full of Daytona racing memorabilia, made up of a lot of autographed pictures of past and present racing stars in both motorcycle and auto racing. Did you know that fans of such icons like Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Dale Jarrett, can come in and sit at booths that honor these stars of NASCAR? The racers themselves have eaten in these same booths!

As for the food itself, you’ll get big portions! Start out with one of their appetizers, which are under the “Ignite Your Appetite” section, and include such treats as the chili-topped Ultimate Nachos and the Home Style Chili which came with some really tasty garlic bread topped with mozzarella cheese. Racing’s North Turn offers a great selection of fresh seafood, including their Lobster Ravioli and a wide choice of Back Stretch Sandwiches that contain a number of Basa and Mahi fish selections. Desserts come under “The Finish Line”, and include tarts and cheesecake.

Richard Petty Driving Experience at Daytona International Speedway

If You Go:

The Casements: 25 Riverside Dr., Ormond Beach, FL 32176 (next to Daytona Beach). 386-676-3216. Free Admission.
The Cellar: 220 Magnolia Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114. 386-258-0011. www.thecellarrestaurant.com
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse: 12 miles south of Daytona Beach at 4931 S. Peninsula Dr., Ponce Inlet, FL 32127. 386-761-1821. www.ponceinlet.org Admission charge.
Daytona USA: At the Daytona International Speedway: 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114. 386-947-6800. www.daytonausa.com Admission charge.
Racing’s North Turn: 4511 South Atlantic Avenue, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127. 386-322-3258. www.racingsnorthturn.com

About the author:
Roy A. Barnes is a past contributor to Travel Thru History and writes from southeastern Wyoming. Disclosure: Roy A. Barnes attended a Daytona Beach press trip, but he wasn’t told what or how to write about what he experienced by the sponsor.

Photo credits:
Daytona Beach welcome sign photo by tsreptilien from Pixabay
All other photographs are by Roy A. Barnes.